Electric controller.



PATENTED JUNE 30', 1903.

J. A. LITTLE.

ELECTRIC CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, 1903.

2 SHEETS--SHEBT 1.

N0 MODEL.

nim.

PA'I'ENTED JUNE 30, 1903,

J. A. LITTLE.- ELEGTRIG 'CONTROLLER APPLICATION FILED IAB.. 16, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES` Patented une 30, 1903.

PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN A. LITTLE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO GLOBE ELECTRICCOMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

ELECTRIC CONTROLLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 732,201, dated June 30,1903.

Application filed March 16, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOHN A. LITTLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at St.Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Electric Controllers,

of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is alongitudinal verticalsectional view on line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a front elevational viewof the device with the faceplate removed. Fig. 3 is a transversesectional view of Fig. 2 on line 3 3 looking in the direction ofthearrows. Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 2, with the several parts intheir operative position. Fig. 4a is a detail view hereinafterdescribed, and Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 are diagrammatic illustrations ofthe detail arrangement of wiring for the several contactplateshereinafter more fully described.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in electricalcontrollers for general use, though the particular application of theinvention illustrated herein is representative of the apparatus designedespecially for use in connection with an electrically-propelledmotor-vehicle; and it consists in certain features of construction andoperative combination of parts, all as hereinafter more fully described,and specifically pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a base-plate, provided with perforations2, in which are held reciprocatory spring-controlled bindingposts 3,provided at each side of the baseplate 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, andsupporting thereon the terminal-plates 4 and 5, the former, 4,comprising the positive battery-terminals and the latter, 5, thenegative terminals of the same. The terminal-plates 4 and 5 extendVsubstantially across the casing 6 from left to right and are supportedat each end by posts l3, as shown in the drawings. For convenience ofreference the several cooperating parts will be described in 5o detailas herein illustrated, though it will be Serial No. 148,030. (No model.)

apparent that any other suitable arrangement thereof which will producethe same relative cooperation of parts will be within the spirit of theinvention, which is not limited to the particular arrangement hereinshown and described.

Supported at each end by posts 7 are contact-carrying plates 8, heldnormally out of contact by means of the springs 9 on said posts 7.V Thecontact-plates 8 are disposed 6o at right angles to the terminal-plates4 and 5 and extend beyond the top and bottom plates 4 and 5 at each end.In convenient proximity to the ends of plates 8 are located posts 10,preferably slotted at their ends, and pivotally supported in saidslotted ends are levers 1l, which levers are'pivote'd behind the endportions of said plates 8. Thus if any contact-plate is pressedinwardlytoward the terminal-plates the levers 11 behind the same 7o will carryoutwardly the next contact-plate on -either side, thereby assisting thesprings 9 to insure breaking of contact as soon as any plate 8 of theseries is released and the next plate is depressed. l

Connected with the contact-plates at approximately the central portionthereof are posts 12, provided with shoulders 13, the free outer ends ofsaid posts 12 projecting normally through and beyond the face-plate 148o and the shoulders 13 serving to prevent eX- cessive thrust of saidposts 12 through said plate. f Y

Pivotally supported upon the lower portion of the face-plate 14 is alever A15, which lever 85 is provided with beveled rear face and isguided in operation by means of the strap 16, which strap is insubstantially the plane of the projecting ends of the posts 12, and aslotted arc 17 is provided with a scale orwith 9o a scale and offsetopenings 17, designed to serve as an indicator andas engaging means forholding the said lever l5 in its several operative positions, as bestshown in the detail view Fig. 4a.

Thus far the several vertical plates, herein called contact plates, aresubstantially alike; but the plate marked SiL is in practice a neutralplate which is not provided with Contact members, and when the lever 15is (roo thrown to the position shown in Fig. 4 the post 125L willVcontact with said lever Without acting to close the battery-circuit.

Upon the rear face of each plate S is a series ot' contacts 18, whichmay be of anypreferred form, though for convenience of illustration theyare illustrated in the form of thin metal plates interposed between thecontactplates 8 and the terminal-plates 11 and 5 and are the same innumberas the number of such terminal-plates.

The terminal-plates are of metal orof other material faced with metal atthe points of impingement of the contacts 18, and the body portion ofthe contact-plates is formed from any suitable non -conductor ofelectricity, through which project binding-posts 19, connected at theirinner ends to said contacts 18 and connected at their outer ends invarious plans of arrangement by the wires 20, so that as shown in Fig. 8all the batteries of the series are connected in multiple, as shown inFig. 7 the two lower batteries are in series with the two upperbatteries cut out, as shown in Fig. 6 the two upper and the lowerbatteries are in series with the battery next the bottom in multiplewith the bottom one, while in Fig. 5 all the batteries are in series,Whereby the greatest service etiiciency thereof is obtainable.

It will be understood that the terminals are to be properly connected totheir respective storage batteries and finally to the motor of thevehicle wherein the power of suoli batteries is to be utilized; but assuch connections are well understood they are not herein illustrated.

I am aware that many minor changes in the construction, arrangement, andcombination of the several parts of my device can be made andsubstituted for those herein shown and described without in the leastdeparting from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In anapparatus of the character described, a series of battery-terminalsarranged substantially parallel, aseries of movable contact-plates and aneutral plate at an angle thereto and means for simultaneously closingcircuit through said movable contact-plates, anda movable member adaptedto actuate each contact-plate separately; substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a series of disconnectedbattery-terminals arranged substantially parallel, a series of movablecontact-plates carrying contacts arranged parallel and at an angle tosaid battery-terminals, binding-posts on said contact-plates connectedto said contacts, current conductors variously connecting saidbinding-posts on the said contact-plates to produce varied current fromthe same series of batteries, and a movable member cooperating with andadapted to move one or more of said contact-plates to close the circuittherethrough when in predetermined positions; substantially asdescribed.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality ofbattery-terminals, a plurality of movable contact-plates arranged at anangle thereto, with contacts thereon, connected to utilize the currentof all of said batteries in various circuits, and means for closingcircuit upon movement of said contact-plates from minimum to maximum;slibstantially as described.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality ofbattery-terminals, a plurality of movable circuit-carryingcontactplatesarranged at an angle thereto, and contacts therebetween upon a pluralityof said circuit-carrying contactplates, a neutral plate, postsprojecting from said contactplates and said neutral plate and a lever,movable on a fixed pivot, adapted to cooperate with each of said postsat predetermined points of itsy movement; substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a series ofbattery-terminals arranged in pairs, a movable contact-plate at an anglethereto cooperating therewith and means movable in contact with saidplate for closing circuit through said contact-plate; substantially asdescribed.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality ofbattery-terminals arranged in pairs, inovable'contact members at anangle thereto, cooperating with said terminals, current-conductorsvariously arranged on said movable contact members, contacts on saidmovable members connected with said current-conductors, and means'forprojecting said Contact members in the direction of said terminals;substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality ofbattery-terminals arranged in substantially parallel series, a series ofmovable cooperating contactcarrying members cooperating therewith,current-conductors variously arranged on said movable contact members,contacts on said movable members connected with said current-conductors,and means for moving said contact-carrying members into operativecontact with said battery-terminals; substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality ofbattery-terminals arranged in substantiallyparallel series, a series ofmovable cooperating contact carrying members cooperating therewith,current-conductors variously arranged on said movable` contact members,contacts on said movable members connected with said current-conductors,and means for moving said contact-carrying members successively into andout of operative contact; substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, aserics of terminalsconnected with a IIO bers cooperating therewith, current-conduc-- torsvariously arranged on said movable contact members, contacts on saidmovable members connected With said current-conductors, and means 'forprojecting said movable members from a normal position to close thecircuit successively through said movable members; substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, in the presence oftWo witnesses, this 26th day of February, 1903.

JOHN A. LITTLE.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK H. GIBBS, GEORGE BAKEWELL.

